The onset of molecular condensation: hydrogen

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2010 Oct 14;12(38):12060-4. doi: 10.1039/c003376f. Epub 2010 Aug 3.

Abstract

The very first steps of condensation as studied experimentally in the simplest molecular system (para-H(2)) are reported. The fast time-space evolution of the nascent clusters have been measured using state-of-the-art Raman spectroscopy implemented on cryogenic supersonic jets. The time-dependent onset of condensation is presented in a non-equilibrium pressure-temperature phase diagram. Dimer and trimer formation are found to obey three-body processes whose rates have been determined.